real bucs fan wrote:I think Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice have altered your perception on what an inside runner looks like. Barkley is very much a beast between the tackles. Does he try and murder linebackers? No he doesn't... but that's also why he's going to stay healthy in this league while Fournette and Guice are going to be banged up throughout their careers. Barkley is going to be Ezekial Elliot.... if Zeke we're 10 pounds heavier and had a 6th gear. Not only is he going to be a beast, he's going to be one of the biggest superstars of his era. Your Reggie Bush comp was much more fitting for McCaffery last year...

Zeke, Fournette, and Guice all take what's blocked for at the POA and then break loose at the 2nd level.Barkley sees what's blocked for at the POA and WAY too often ignores it to try and run for 80 outside.

It's a fundamentally style difference. It's not about murdering linebackers. It's about not looking for the homerun until you've already gained what's blocked for.

That style works a lot better against the 4.8 linebackers of the Big Ten than it will in the NFL. Watch his highlights and count how many times he doesn't win the edge at the LOS against an NFL defense. If you do so honestly, you'll probably count 4 out of every 5 of his big gains being TFL or short gains, with 4-5 yards left on the table if he'd followed his blockers.

real bucs fan wrote:I think Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice have altered your perception on what an inside runner looks like. Barkley is very much a beast between the tackles. Does he try and murder linebackers? No he doesn't... but that's also why he's going to stay healthy in this league while Fournette and Guice are going to be banged up throughout their careers. Barkley is going to be Ezekial Elliot.... if Zeke we're 10 pounds heavier and had a 6th gear. Not only is he going to be a beast, he's going to be one of the biggest superstars of his era. Your Reggie Bush comp was much more fitting for McCaffery last year...

Zeke, Fournette, and Guice all take what's blocked for at the POA and then break loose at the 2nd level.Barkley sees what's blocked for at the POA and WAY too often ignores it to try and run for 80 outside.

It's a fundamentally style difference. It's not about murdering linebackers. It's about not looking for the homerun until you've already gained what's blocked for.

That style works a lot better against the 4.8 linebackers of the Big Ten than it will in the NFL. Watch his highlights and count how many times he doesn't win the edge at the LOS against an NFL defense. If you do so honestly, you'll probably count 4 out of every 5 of his big gains being TFL or short gains, with 4-5 yards left on the table if he'd followed his blockers.

His highlights don't tell the whole story. Try watching his runs that don't make sports center. He can run inside, and very well.

real bucs fan wrote:You really are going to look foolish with this ridiculous stance on Barkley...

I call 'em like I sees 'em. I don't hate him as a prospect, btw. I'm not predicting he's out of the league in 2 years or any such thing. But I see a career path similar to Reggie Bush's.

- Unstoppable college weapon who used his soft hands, speed, and agility to rack up big plays against college defenses.- General disinclination to run inside.- Gets hyped up as the next great back.- Gets drafted in the top 3.- Predictably has trouble running inside in the NFL, and the huge plays that were there on the edge in college aren't there nearly as much.- Catches a ton of passes. Useful in a rotation or as a "weapon" but somebody else gets the ball on 3rd and 2. Hangs around for ten years. Rushes for 5,000 yards and catches 600 passes. Has a nice career.

He won't be a bust. But unless he commits to following his blocks and taking lanes in the A and B gaps instead of bouncing everything outside, he will not live up to his hype.

I agree totally. In fact, I've made this exact comparison in another thread.

MJW wrote:I call 'em like I sees 'em. I don't hate him as a prospect, btw. I'm not predicting he's out of the league in 2 years or any such thing. But I see a career path similar to Reggie Bush's.

- Unstoppable college weapon who used his soft hands, speed, and agility to rack up big plays against college defenses.- General disinclination to run inside.- Gets hyped up as the next great back.- Gets drafted in the top 3.- Predictably has trouble running inside in the NFL, and the huge plays that were there on the edge in college aren't there nearly as much.- Catches a ton of passes. Useful in a rotation or as a "weapon" but somebody else gets the ball on 3rd and 2. Hangs around for ten years. Rushes for 5,000 yards and catches 600 passes. Has a nice career.

He won't be a bust. But unless he commits to following his blocks and taking lanes in the A and B gaps instead of bouncing everything outside, he will not live up to his hype.

I agree totally. In fact, I've made this exact comparison in another thread.

Dont forget, I brought up how much he likes to lose yardage! All the 2018 great running backs look great when they are running thru gaping holes made by college offensive linemen.